Blind-slat fastener.



J. B. RILEY.

BLIND SLAT FASTENER.

APPLIUATION rum) OUT. 6, 1909.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

FIQE.

JOHN BRIZENDINE RILEY, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

BLIND-SLAT FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14:, 1909.

Application filed October 6, 1909. Serial No. 521,327.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BRIZENDINE RILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Austin, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Blind-Slat Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to blind slat fasteners or devices for holding blind slats of a connected series in a horizontal position so as to permit the passage of air through the blind and between the slats; and it consists in the peculiar and advantageous blind slat fastener hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification: Figure l is an elevation illustrating the movable member of my novel fastener in engagement with a slat of a connected series to fasten the several slats of said series in an open position. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the movable member of the fastener by full lines in its working position, and by dotted lines in its idle position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fastener as the same appears precedent to being attached to the blind frame.

Similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which:

A is a blind frame. B B are slats pivoted in the frame, and C is a bar connecting the several slats and adapted to be used in the conventional manner as a handle in opening or closing the same in unison. The said frame, slats and connecting bar may be and preferably are of the ordinary well known construction, though I would have it under stood that my novel fastener may be employed in combination with any type of slat to which it is applicable, without involving departure from the scope of my claimed invention.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, my novel fastener comprises a bracket D, of right angle form in cross-section, having one of its arms threaded as indicated by E, and also having on the threaded portion of said arm a rose F, preferably of sheet-metal. The said threaded arm E is adapted to be turned into the face of the frame A so as to fix the bracket thereto, and the rose F has for its office to rest against the face of the frame and enhance the finished appearance of the bracket when the same is applied as stated. The outer arm of the bracket D is arranged in the same horizontal plane as the pivots of one slat, and the end of said arm is reduced, as indicated by G.

In addition to the bracket D the fastener comprises a movable member II. This latter is preferably, though not necessarily, formed of sheet-metal, and the said sheetmetal is bent upon itself toform a handle a adapted to straddle the reduced end of the bracket, and is also bent, as indicated by Z), to form a bifurcated arm adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with the adjacent slat. It will also be noticed that the movable member is pivoted to the reduced end of the bracket through the medium of a rivet c.

It will observed in practice that when the movable member of the fastener is in the idle position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, it will rest clear of the adjacent slat, and consequently will not interfere with the opening and closing of the connected slats in the conventional manner. When, however, the slats are moved to a horizontal position and the member H is swung to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2, the bifurcated arm of the said member will straddle the edge of the adjacent slat and in that way will securely hold the said slat and the slats connected therewith open.

To release the slats when the same are fastened in an open position in the manner stated, it is simply necessary to press with the thumb against the handle or linger-piece a of the fastener and return the same to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It will be gathered from the foregoing that my novel fastener is susceptible of ready application to a blind frame without the employment of skilled labor, and is reliable in operation and durable; also, that when nickel-plated or otherwise embellished the fastener is calculated to enhance rather than detract from the neat appearance of the blind.

WVhile I have shown and described one form of my invention, it is to be understood that I am not limited to the details or the form or relative arrangement of parts disclosed, but that limited modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a blind slat fastener comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to and project from the face of a blind frame, and a swinging member pivoted on the outer portion of said bracket and having a bifurcated end adapted, when the member is swung inward, to receive the edge of an adjacent slat and hold the same against swinging.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a blind slat fastener comprising a bracket of angular form, one arm of which is adapted to be attached to the face of a blind frame, and a member fulcrumed on the other arm of said bracket and having a bifurcated i11- ner arm adapted, in one position of the member, to receive the edge of an adjacent slat, and also having an outer arm forming,

a handle or finger-piece.

' 3. a new article of manufacture, a blind slat fastener comprising a bracket, of angular form, one arm of which is threaded and equipped with a rose and the other arm of which is reduced at its end, a movable member formed of a single piece of sheet-metal bent upon itself and straddling the reduced end of the bracket, and having a handle arm and also having a bifurcated arm adapted in one position to receive the edge of an adjacent slat, and a pintle extending through and connecting the movable member and the reduced end of the bracket.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

JOHN BRIZENDIN E RILEY. lVitnesses N. A. REoToR, T. S. JOHNSON. 

